Electromagnetic hockey game



Dec. 13, 1960 R. LEBRUN 2,964,320

ELECTROMAGNETIC HOCKEY GAME Filed Dec. 22, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTO Robert LE BRUN 8y I I ATTORNEYS Dec. 13, 1960 R. LEBRUN ELECTROMAGNETIC HOCKEY GAME 5 Sheets-Sheet? Filed Dec. 22, 1958 INVENTDR Robert LEBRUN A1 1mm R. LEBRUN ELECTROMAGNETIC HOCKEY GAME Dec, 13, 1960 Filed Dec. 22, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 N jNI/ENTOR Robert LEBRUN ATTORAEY Dec. 13, 1960 R. LEBRUN 2,9 20

ELECTROMAGNETIC HOCKEY GAME Filed Dec. 22, 1958 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 MOTOR tacgpgflc Kai 5P *G l) 1 .56 .38

l man/5m: PLATE J9 I g DISTRIBUTOR ROTATING R0 TAT/N6 4'6 ig- FIELD I 4 E 55 J7 58 88 6' 66 x, A

l N mvglvrm Arrpmvev;

Dec. 13, 1960 r R. LEBRUN 2,964,320

ELECTROMAGNETIC HOCKEY GAME Filed Dec. 22, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Robert LEBRUN Fig.7 56/ BY ATTORWYQ United States Patent ELECTROMAGNETIC HOCKEY GAME Robert Lebrun, 5573 Basile-Patenaude, Apt. 14, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Dec. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 782,006 7 20 Claims. (Cl. 273-85) The present invention relates to a novel toy construction which is particularly adapted for a hockey game, but may also be used for other toy games of a similar nature.

The invention, by making use of a new combination of simple mechanical, electrical and magnestic means, makes it possible to remotely control the players, which are disposed on a field, so as to displace these players each independently in any desired direction, and on any point of the field, and to actuate them so that they shoot a puck with their stick. According to the invention each player is controlled by a separate control knob, and there is no mechanical connection between the players and the field, and the system is so designed that the actuation of one player has no influence on the movement of any other player. Furthermore the control means are simple and direct, consisting merely in knobs which are turned exactly in the direction of movement of the player, and in push but-. tons wh.ch may .be actuated to stop the player. Therefore after ashort period of practice the operator of the game will perform the control motions automatically, and will be able to concentrate entirely on the game.

The mechanism in accordance with the invention generally comprises the following structure: the field on which the players are disposed may be given a sudden impulse in a given direction, and its return movement is slow, so that a particular one of the players receives an impulse in said direction, which impulse is not counterbalanced by the slow return movement. Each of the players has a breaking device in its base, and means are provided to release the braking devices of the players in a predetermined cycle. The releasing means is synchronized with the means for moving the field, so that during the portion of cycle in which a particular player is released and capable of moving, the field may be moved in the direction in which it is desired to move the player. During the cycle of each player, all the other players have their brake on, so that said movement'of the field does not affect them.

In particular the brake releasing means consists of a shooting the puck.

2,9643% Patented Dec. 13, 1960.

Fig. 4 is schematic diagram of the mechanical connections;

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the field moving means;

Pig. 6 is a vertical section of the base of a player;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a player;

lug. 8 is a cross section of the puck;

Figs. 9 to 13 are diagrams showing the releasing cycle as related to the position of the magnetic plate;

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the various open and closed pos.tions or the players on the eccentric wheel; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are schematical top views of a player with reference to Fig. l, the toy game is housed in a rectangular box 20 open at the top, and having end boards 21 to which are attached player control knobs A1, A2, A3 and A4, and a general switch 23. Numeral 24 lndica.es the field, on which are located the players B1, B2, B3 and B4, and the puck 25. or the purposes of the present description, the number of players has been limited to four, but it is understood that any number of players and corresponding knobs may be provided.

As shown in big. 2, on the bottom panel 2601 the box, are located four radically resilient support rods 27 having top pins 28 in which are inserted holes 29 of field 24. Each hole 29 is surrounded by a rubber washer 30 which rests on a shoulder plate 31 of each support 27. 'lwo boards 32 located on the panel 26 support two transverse shafts 33, 34, which are rotatably mounted in bearings each shaft 33, 34 comprises at cach end thereof a wheel 36, having an eccentric pin 37. A

magnetic plate, disposed under the field, and whose dis- 7 tance from the field varies regularly according to a cycle, and the brake of each player comprises a magnet and a spring so calibrated that the magnet is attracted by the magnetic plate.

In view of the novelty of the invention, the functioning, and the various structural features thereof are easier to explain with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and wherein like reference characters indicate like elements throughout. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view in perspective of a toy hockey game according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the toy game of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the electro-magnetic' circuit; Y i

motor.38 also located on panel 26 drives shaft 33 by means of a pully 39 on the output shaft of motor 38, a belt 40, and a second pulley 41 on shaft .33. Shaft 33 in turn drives shaft 34 by means of pulleys 42 and 43, and belt 44. The two shafts 33 and 34 are thus rotated in unison by motor 38.

Two iron discs 45, 46 disposed horizontally on vertical shatts at either end of the panel 26, are continuously driven by motor 38 through the intermediary of a belt 47, on a pulley 425 of the output shaft of the motor 38, which drives disc 45, and a belt 49, which is passed over pulleys 50 and 51, and thus drives disc 46 in unison with dis: 45.

Directly underneath the held 24 is disposed a magnetic plate 52, having four brackets 53, each comprising a hole 54 which is inserted on a corresponding pin 37 of wheels 36. Thus when the motor 38 is operated the plate 52 is moved up and down in a continuous motion.

Shafts 33 and 34 comprise counterweights 60 to counterbalance the weight of plate 52 so as to avoid vibration.

'1 he held 24 comprises at each end thereof a bracket 55 spanning a round hole 56 (see also Fig. 5); to the cen.re of bracket 55 is bolted a hanger 57 to the bottom of which are attached a number (eight in the embodiment illustrated) of electromagnets 58 the cores of which are slightly spaced from discs 45, 46. Electromagnets 58' are located on the circumference of a circle substantially concentric with discs 45, 46. It will be seen that, when corresponding magnets 58 at both ends of the field 24 are excited for a short period of time, they will exert a force of attraction on discs 45, 46 so as to be entrained thereby in a tangential direction and the field 24 will thus receive an impulse the direction of which is determined by the position of the magnets which are excited. As soon as the magnet is deenergized, the field 24 returns to its normal position due to the resilience of supports 27, however the return movement is much slower than the movement given by the impulse of discs 45, 46 on the magnets.

To one edge of plate 52 (Fig. 2) is attached a distributor 59 which in turn touches each of four contacts C1, C2, C3 and C4 supported on the bottom panel 26,

so as to-indicate the position of plate 52, as will be explained hereinafter.

The mechanical connections are summarized in the diagram of Fig. 4: motor 38 drives on the one hand the eccentric wheels 36 which drive the magnetic plate. 52, which in turn determines the position of the distributor 59; on the other hand motor 38' drives the discs.45 46, which produce impulses'on the field 24.

The electrical circuit (Fig. 3) comprises a plug 61 which is inserted in a normal household outlet 62. The circuit of plug 61 comprises a transformer 63 (also shown in Fig. 2) and the switch 23; the circuit is branched oflto supply current'to the motor 38;

One terminal of the secondary circuit'of"the trans,- former 63 is grounded, and the other terminal is connected to the distributor 59. Each otthe four distributor contacts C1 to C4 is connected to one off'ourselector switches operated by buttons 'Al to A4 (Fig. 1). Four push button switches 64, whichmay mechanically be combined with buttons A1 to A4; or which may include separate push buttons, are interposed between each see. lector switch and each distributor contact C1 to C4.

Each selector switch A1 to A4 may selectively close any one-of eight contacts 65, each of which is connected to two correspondingly locatedelectromagnets 58' at both ends of field 24; the other terminals of electromagnets 58 being grounded.

It will be seen that the'distributor'59 which re'ciprocates together with the magnetic plate 52, closes only one of contacts-C1 to C4 at 'a time, so that current is fed successively exclusively to each one'ofselector switches A1 to A4. Due to the reciprocationofdistributor 59, each of theselectorswitches "is fed-twice .during each cycle of Each player (Figs 7,) comprises, aheavy base; 66 .air; order to give it stability. The stick 67 is slightly spaced from the ground, so as not to interferewith. the move; ment of the player. i

The base 66 of each player B1 to B4 (Fig. 6) comprises a casting 68 in which are journalled three or four castors 69, which enable the player to roll freely over the field 24. The central portion ofthe base comprisesa cap attached to the casting68; alarge castor arm .71 has its shaft 72 journalled in the. cap .70. Shaft fi er tends outside of cap 70, and 'hasfixedly mounted thegeog. a bushing 73 whichis secured to the player.

The wheel74 oicast'or arm71isof frictionalrnaterial," such 'as soft rubber, and is secured on an,axlle.-. 75 jo n nalled in the arm 71.,' Also secured onfaxle 75 .isa smaller wheel 76 whichisalso made of 'afrelatively soft material.

Rigidly connected to the castor arm 71 is an L-shaped bracket 77, to the free end of which is pivotally mounted a lever 78, terminating in a prong 79, the inturned points 80 of which are adapted to engage the wheel 76, and

prevent the rotation of shaft 75,'whereby wheel 74 acts.

as a brake. The lower oneof pointsf80 is normally urged against the wheel 76 by a spring 81, which isjconnect ed to the prong 79 and to the bracket 77'. The bi'acket..77 comprises in its vertical leg four holes D1, D2, D3 and D4, and spring 81' may be attached to any one of these holes so as to selectively adjust its tension,v A, permanent magnet 82 is fastenedjto lever 78.

It will be seen from the above construction, that during, its up and down movement the magneticplate 52, may. reach a position in which its attraction oninagnet 82,-is. strong enough to overcome the resistance of "spring 81.. Thus the lever 78 will be pivoted downwardly until, the upper point 80 of prong 79 engages the wheel 7611, Iii the time interval duringwhich this.,pivotal ln oyement takes place, the rubber wheel ,74 is; free to rotate, and

the player is' free to mover v g v n s of the P ?F 3 1 h.a r p 81'attached to a correspondingly numbered hole D1 to D4, so that the required distance of magnetic plate 52, to release'the wheel 74, is different for each player.

The tensions of springs 81, and the field strengths of magnets 82 and of plate 52 are mutually adjusted in such a way that movement of each lever 78 will take place successively at the positions shown in Fig. 14, namely starting from the lowest position of the plate, during the first eighthoff a.:cycle', the. prong of player B1 willopen and close again, during the second eighth of cycle, that of player B2, and so on, in the followingsuccessionz It will be seen. that. this cycle corresponds exactly to the cycle of operationof'the selectorswitches, described above. The two cycles are furthermore exactly synchronized by the fact that they have the controlling member in common, namely the plate 52 Thus during the interval in' which each player 'isfreei tofmove; the'field 24 receivesan impulse thedi'rection'ofwhich is determined by the selector switch'pertain'ing' to the p'articular'player, whereas. the other players are unable to move.

The'operati'on"iscle'arly illustrated in Figures 9 to 13.

In Fig. 9 platei52 is at its lowest point, and is too re= mote'from' any ofthem'agnets 82 to move'any of prongs 79, while'the distributor 59 is out of contact with any ofcontacts C1 to C4. In Fig, 10 thewheel 36 has rotated-through about of a turn, and plate 52 has reached a position in which it overcomes spring 81 of player 'B1, and liberates wheel 76; at the same'time the distributortouches contact'Cl, and'closes thecircuit of 'setector switch A1. In 11 playerBl is braked by contactofits "upper-point with' its'wheel 76', and all the othertplayers are'also braked, and'thedistributor does not touch any'"of the" contacts:- a The same operation is then repeatedforeach player (Fig: 12), and-isthen-repeated inversely-during the n'ext half cycle"as* shownin Fig; 1-3.

The angular velocity of wheels, 36' 'should'beiabout 15320 r;p.s which' gives each player 30-40 impulsesper second; so as to'create theimpression of continuous motion; each individual movement of the'players is of the order of ,4 inch, so" that the players move over the field at a speed of about 2 in; per second; which makes for 'alively, but easily controlled game.

The'push button switches 64 (Fig. 3') may beeither normally open or normally closed. If they'are normally Qpen;they must bepre'ssed" continuously, in order 'to keep thef corresporrdin'g player moving,""and' assoon *a's'they are released the player stops;"' due to the fact" that the serum does ngt undergo any' impulse duringt-he'movable intervalgofftlreplayer. Ifon the otherhand the "switches are-normal'lyiclosed, theymustf be pressed'tostop the corresponding player.

Besides the movement 'and"tlre direction *of'th'eplayers; itisalso possible to control shooting of the'puck. It has beenmentioned 'that each 'player'is fixedly mounted on shaft'72 (Fig; 6) of=castor 74. It' is evident-that, due to inertia and friction, the-castor 74 will tend to trail the direction of' movementof' the player so, that'the players advance stick first'. If'thedirection' of movement ofthe base is suddenly-alteredga pull is exertedion'axis 72, and=the bodyof the-player will swingin the direction of the pulli Thisetr'cct is"usedto*'obtain"shooting of the puck, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. Toobtain'the eifct-of"Fig. 1'5, the'p layer isfitsfbrought to positionl, and is then stoppedrby'openingswitch 64; The selector switch "is 'then' turnedabotit andswitch 6'4 is'closed; This will givedhgplayer a"suddenf'impulse to position IIin the direction 'of' arrow -K", :andfwill cause "thegplayer to rotate rapidly, wherebyfsticlg'jfiTwill'strikefthepuck 25 "with substantial-force; i and sheep; it ir 1;; thejdiree'tion arr w-M i To obtain a slower ,strong.acCOrdiugJoQFiga 16;'f.the switch 64, is kept. closed,i.whilef the;v selectorswitchis rapid'iy'rotated,'so that the player will progressively s slime positions I to IV; in this case the shot has less force, because the angular acceleration of the player is smaller.

It is obvious that the procedure of Figures 15 and 16 may be carried out either towards the right or towards the left.

With reference to Fig. l, a goal keeper 83 is disposed in front of each goal 84. Each goal keeper 83 is fixed to a shaft 85 (Fig. 2) journalled in the field 24, and having a pulley 90 which is connected by means of an elastic belt 86 (Fig. 5) to a pulley 87 connected to a shaft 88 of knob 89 (Fig. 1). The shaft 88 extends externally of field 24 (Fig. 2). Due to its elasticity, belt 86 does not interfere with the movement of field 24. The goal keeper 83 may thus be rotated by turning knob 89.

The field 24 is preferably made of Plexiglas" or a similar transparent plastic material, and the field lines are drawn on the plate 52, as shown in Fig. 2.

' Plate 52 may be made of a rigid iron sheet, preferably perforated, so as to decrease air resistance, and to prevent said air resistance from bending the plate. Plate 52 may also be made of a thin sheet of metal attached to a rigid lightweight support, such as a panel of plastic foam.

Each player is made of a rigid yet light material, in order to improve its stability, and may be made of sheet material, or it may be molded.

The puck 25 (Fig. 8) is pill shaped, and may be made hollow and in two sections, 91, 92, and may contain a steel ball 93 in order to give it a certain inertia, which helps to prevent its being moved bythe movements of the field 24.

The invention is not of course limited to the preferred embodiment which has been illustrated and described, and encompasses all the modifications which are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy game comprising a field, a plurality of players freely movable on said field, normally engaged braking means for each player, means for cyclicly releasing the braking means of one player at a time for a short interval, and means for producing during each said interval an impulse on said field substantially in its own plane, selecting means peculiar to each player selecting the direction of said impulse, said field comprising resilient means to produce a return movement of said field which is slower than said impulse movement, said selecting means being synchronized with said brake releasing means, so that during each brake releasing interval, said field is impulsed in a direction selected by one of said selecting means peculiar to one player.

2. A toy game as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for rendering each said selecting means inoperative, whereby during said interval said field does not receive any impulse.

3. A toy game comprising a field, 1, 2 n players freely movable on said field, normally engaged braking means for each player, means for releasing the braking means of one player at a time during a short interval, in the following cycle:

means for producing during each said interval an impulse on said field substantially in its own plane, selecting means each peculiar to each player selecting the direction of said impulse, said field comprising resilient means to produce a return movement of said field which is slower than said impulse movement, said selecting means being synchronized with said brake releasing means so as to operate in the before mentioned cycle, whereby during each brake releasing interval, said field is impulsed in a direction selected by one of said selecting means peculiar to one player.

4. A toy game comprising a field, means for producing on said field, an impulse substantially in its own plane, said field comprising resilient means to produce a re- 6 turn movement of said field which is slower than said im pulse movement, a plurality of players freely movable on said field, selecting means peculiar to each player and connected to said first means, for selecting the direction of said impulse, spring urged braking means for each player, a magnet attached to each said braking means, a magnetic plate, means driving said plate in a substantially reciprocating movement away from and towards and constantly parallel to said field, the springs of the braking means being progressively calibrated, so that each said spring is overcome by the attraction of said magnet to said magnetic plate at a ditferentdistance of said plate from said field, means for reengaging said braking means of each player when said plate has left said distance, said plate comprising means which during its reciprocating movement actuate the selecting means of each player at the instant when said players braking means are released.

5. A toy game comprising a field, resilient means mounting said field for limited movement in substantially its own plane, at least one constantly driven magnetic rotating member adjacent and parallel to said field, a plurality of electromagnets fastened to said field and disposed substantially in a circle around the axis of said rotating member, a plurality of players freely movable on said field, selector switches peculiar to each player for selectively actuating one of said electromagnets, whereby said field receives an impulse substantially in said plane in a direction depending on the position of the actuated electromagnet, normally engaged braking means for each player, and means for cyclically releasing the braking means of one player at a time for a short interval, and for energizing the selector switch peculiar to each said one player during each said interval.

6. A toy game comprising a field, resilient means mounting said field for limited movement in substantially its own plane, at least one constantly driven magnetic rotating member adjacent and parallel to said field, a plurality of electromagnets fastened to said field and disposed substantially in a circle around the axis of said rotating member, a plurality of players freely movable on said field, selector switches peculiar to each player for selectively actuating one of said electromagnets, whereby said field receives an impulse substantially in said plane in a direction depending on the position of the actuated electromagnet, spring urged braking means for each player, a magnet attached to each said braking means, a magnetic plate, means driving said plate in a substantially reciprocating movement away from and towards and constantly parallel to said field, the springs of the braking means of the players being progressively calibrated, so that each said spring is overcome by the attraction of said magnet to said magnetic plate at a different distance of said plate from said field, means for reengaging said braking means of each player when said plate has left said distance, said plate comprising a distributor which energizes the selector switch peculiar to each player during the brake released interval of each player.

7. A toy game as claimed in claim 6, wherein said resilient means comprises upright radially resilient rods supporting said field.

8. A toy game as claimed in claim 6, comprising two magnetic rotating members disposed at opposite ends of said field, the corresponding electromagnets of each magnetic rotating member being electrically interconnected so as to be energized simultaneously.

9. A toy game as claimed in claim 6, wherein each player comprises a base set on castors.

10. A toy game as claimed in claim 6, having an electrical circuit which comprises in series a source of electrical energy, a distributor contact attached to said magnetic plate, a plurality of distributor contacts contacted by said distributor contact as the plate is reciprocated, attached to a fixed support of said toy game, each distributor contact of said plurality being connected to a selector member of one selector switch, a plurality of selector contacts selectively contacted by each said selector mem assessor:

7 er; and corresponding contacts: or" saith switches being? connected-to each electromagnetl.

1:1. A. toy "games-as claimedztinr claim-10;;said? circuit: further 'comPrisirigrzizswitbh adjacent: and inseties with each said selector member. 7

1-2. A my game as claimed inclaim 6, wherein eachplayer comprises a freely movable: base portion, acastor mounted in. said base portion and frictionally engaging; said field. and an upper body portion freely pivotally mounted on said base portion, and, fixed to the axis of: said castor, so that said castor always trailsthe direction of movement of said player, and consequently a deter.- mined part of'saidhody portion alwaysleadsrthe direction"; of movement of said player;

13. A toy game asclaimedzin claim 6; wherein s i magnetic plate driving: means comprises two parallel: shafts driven in unison, apluralityof members fastened to said shafts, and supporting} meansattached to said plate and journalledrtog-eguallyeccentric'points of saidmembers.

14. A toy game as claimed in claim 6, wherein eachsaid braking means of each player comprises a castor; mounted brake wheel in contact with the field whenthe player is in operative position, a second smaller wheel operatively connected to said brake wheel, a prong shaped lever having upper and lower points spaced by a distance greater than the diameter of said second wheel, said spring urging the lower point against said second wheel, said magnet being attached to said lever, and beingoperative; when attracted by said --rn-ag'netic plate, to moveesaid; lever toapositionjwhere sa-id: unn rvpointengage said second wheel;

Aztby game as claimedin-claim:14,whcrein eaclz playercomprisestaspllixtalityflfi spaced: holes for receiw ihg one end:,o saith spring, eachhole, definingra different calibrationo! said. spring, .saidzholes beine atilcasti equal in number to the number of said players, andjthc: spring o'f eachzplayer'being attached toadiiferent one-of said; holes.

I6; Aitoy game as olaimed in claim 6, wherein said: field is made of transparent material; and said magnetic. plate-bears the markings, peculiar to thegame,

1-7'. A toygame-as claimed in claim 1,,further includ ing; goals a goal-keeper pivotally mounted in front of each-goal; andan actuating member mechanically'con nected to each said goal-keeper.

1& A'toygamejas claimed in claim 1, further including-a puck whichislstruckby the players, said puckbeing; hollow and pillrshaped andrcomprising a heavy balltherein-to prevent movementof-saidpuckby the impulse movements-ofsaid field.

19. A toy game asaclaimed in claim 6, wherein said magnetic. plate is made of a perforated sheet in order to decrease airresistance.

20. A toy game-as claimed in claim 6, wherein said magnetic plate is.-madeof.a.sheet of metal mounted on. a lightweight support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

